Mining machine



June`9, 1931. FQ vA. HoMEwooD 1,808,850

MINING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1928 Patented June 9, 1931 PATENI OFFICEFRED A. HOMEWOOD, OF ROOSEVELT, UTAH MINING- MACHINE v.Application:filed June 30, 1928. Serial No. 289,406.

This invention relates to mining machines particularly adapted formining asphaltum or ore of hydro-carbon formation such as commonly knownas uintahite or gilsonite or similar material which is likely to becomesticky when it is heated, although, of course, the machine may be usedwherever applicable.

Gilsonite usually occurs in somewhat narrow veins and up to the presenttime has usually been mined entirely by hand. I have discovered that bycutting channels or kerfs in the vein the material between the kerfs andthe side walls may be readily broken down, thereby facilitating themining operation, and the present invention is particularly intended forthis purpose. These veins are usually too irregular and too narrow topermit the use of the ordinary types of mining machines even if theywere adapted for this 2o purpose. On account of the nature of the miningthe material is usually taken out on a slope, the excavating being doneon the top surface of the vein. It may also be noted that electricapparatus is usually not adapted for use in these mines on account ofthe liability of explosions.

The objects of this invention are to produce a new and improved type ofmining machine; to provide a machine for use in mining gilsonite orother similar materials; to provide a new pneumatically operated miningmachine having two or more cutters arranged side by side to makeparallel cuts and form a relatively wide kerf; to provide a miningmachine having two saws arranged on a common axis with means for drivingthe saws, means for cooling the saws, and means for removing thecuttings and excavated material.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention;

Figure 1 is a side view showing a vertical section of the mine with myimproved machine in operating position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side View of the machine with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a plan view also with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the saws showingthe cutting operation; and Y Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating aportion of the mine after the cutl has been made. As shown in thesedrawings, the machine is provided with a frame 6 which may beconstructed in any suitable manner but which` is shown as formed oftubing. This frame is provided at the rear end with supporting wheels orcastors 7 which are adapted to run on the floor ofthe mine; The rearportion of the frame is also preferably provided with handles 8 forconvenience in guiding or moving vthe machine. A shaft 9 is mounted inbearings 10 inthe front end of the frame and carries a hub 11 on whichis mounted two saws 12 and 13. Any suitable means may be l provided fordriving the saws but in the arrangement shown the hub has a sprocketwheel 14 which is driven by a chain 15 from a sprocket wheel 16 on acountershaft 17 mounted in bearings 18 on the main frame. Thecountershaft is driven by a sprocket wheel 19 which is engaged by achain 20 Vdriven 'by means of a sprocket 21 on the drive of, as shown inFigure 2.

A pipe or conveyor 26 extends from a point adjacent to the saws to therear of the ma-v chine and serves to carry away a portion or all of thematerial which is loosened by the saws and may also serve as a shoe orbottom pan on which the machine is yslid when the .saws have cut in totheir full depth. This conveyor pipe has an opening 27 adjacent to thesaws for receiving such material, and

a draft or air current is'provided through the means of a pipe or jet 28leading from the exhaust pipe 25 and directed backwardly into the pipeY26 so that it will serve as an kinjector to force the air throughthevc'onductor pipe. The material may be discharged from the pipe 26 atthe rear of the machine or this pipe may be continued or provided withan extension or hose 29 for carrying the material to any point desired.

EGG

When the machine is to be operated, air is admitted to the engine ormotor 23 which causes the same to drive the saws through the drivingmechanism, and these saws will cut into the material, as indicated inFigures l and 4, making parallel cuts in the surface thereof. Whileanysuitable sized saws or cutters may be used, I have found that saws aboutsixteen to eighteen inches in diameter placed three fourths of. an inchto one and one quarter inches apart are suitable for this purpose. Asthe saws cut into thegilsonite, the portion between the saws willcrumble or break away so that the resulting kerf will be approximatelyas wide as the distance betweenthe outer' surfaces of the saws. Thecuttings will in part be thrown backwardly and will also be blown backby the air from the exhaust pipe 25 and will be gathered into the mouth27 of the conductor 26 and carried backwardly to any point desired. Themachine is preferably made as light as possible consistent withdurability so that it may be readily handled within the narrow confinesof the walls of such mines. The exhaust air fromV the engine not onlytends to blow the vcuttings back but also serves to cool the saws andprevent their becoming too hot due to the cutting friction. This coolingaction is accentuated by the fact that the air is expanding as it comesfrom the engine, and for this reason has a further cooling action. Thisprevents the saws from becoming hot, which would be likely to heat thegilsonite to such an extent that it would stick to the saws and thusprevent their proper operation. The countershaft 17 may be provided withbetween the saws, a combined shoe and discharge pipe carried by theframe and having an inlet opening adjacent to the saws, and a jet pipeleading to the last named pipe.

8. A mining machine of the character set forth, comprising a frame, tworelatively thin circular saws rotatably mounted at the front of theframe and spaced sulliciently close together to cause the materialbetween the same to be broken away when the saws are cutting, meanscarried by the frame for driving the saws, means for forcing air tothesaws to cool the same and pneumatic means for taking away thematerial, substantially as described.

- FRED A. HOMEWOOD.

one or more drums or Winches 30 which may Y be used in connection withropes or cables for pulling the machine either in making the cut orwithdrawing it from the face.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction or arrangementherein shown and described, except as specified in the following claims,in which I claim: f

l. A machine for mining ore of the character set forth, comprising aframe, a rotary air engine mounted in the frame, means for supplying airto theV engine, a saw mounted in the frame, means for vdriving the sawfrom the engine, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine to a pointadjacent to the saw, a conductor pipe for carrying away the cuttings anda jet from the exhaust to the conductor pipe for forcing air rearwardlythrough said conductor pipe.

2. A miningmachine of the character set forth, comprising a frame,wheels for supporting said frame, a shaft carried by said frame, a hubon said shaft, a pair of saws mounted on the hub, a sprocket wheel onsaid hub, an air engine mounted on the frame,

sprocket wheels and chains for driving the vsprocket on the hub from theengine, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine to a point

